Waste management

Waste management is one of the worst challenges facing South Africa. Waste and pollution pose a serious threat to human health and integrity of the environment.
People are waste generators, but also possess the ability to manage and minimize this waste.

Resources and space are finite as the Earth is not getting any bigger so waste is ultimately not sustainable.

The presence of waste is an indication of overconsumption and that materials are not being used efficiently.

This is carelessly reducing the Earths capacity to supply new raw materials in the future.

The capacity of the natural environment to absorb and process these materials is also under stress.

Valuable resources in the form of matter and energy are lost during waste disposal, requiring that a greater burden be placed on ecosystems to provide these.

The main problem is the sheer volume of waste being produced and how we deal with it.

What is Waste?
Any substance that is –

surplus

unwanted

rejected

abandoned

disposed of;

but once re-used, recycled and recovered it is no longer waste

Methods of managing waste include:

Waste minimization is an approach that aims to reduce the production of waste through education and the adoption of improved production processes and less wasteful practices.

Recycling, by separating certain materials within the waste stream and reprocessing them.Â The recycling of many materials is currently not financially viable.

Waste processing is treatment and recovery (use) of materials or energy from waste through thermal, chemical, or biological means.